86 LandCruiser a good deal??

[mankman]

I found an 96 LC sitting for sale the other day so I stopped to check it out. It needs a little work and the Interior and seats are shot but the frame is very clean and the engine bay looked very good except for the usual oil leaks up front. It has spent its life in NC and SC so very little rust but It does have 268K miles on it. It started right up and I drove it a few miles with no issues found. Owner says I can have it for $4500 what do you guys think. I had a 2001 for 11 years but this would be my first 80. Thanks in Advance

 

[scottryana]

A 1986 Land Cruiser is not an 80 series it would be a 60 series Land Cruiser.

You'll find more information in that section.

I found an 86 LC sitting for sale the other day so I stopped to check it out. It needs a little work and the Interior and seats are shot but the frame is very clean and the engine bay looked very good except for the usual oil leaks up front. It has spent its life in NC and SC so very little rust but It does have 268K miles on it. It started right up and I drove it a few miles with no issues found. Owner says I can have it for $4500 what do you guys think. I had a 2001 for 11 years but this would be my first 80. Thanks in Advance

 

[davidp14]

You mean 96?

86 would be a 60 series.

Either way pics will help

 

[Heckraiser]

If it's a '96, 4500 sounds like a very good deal as described.

If it's a '86, buy now, like this second.

 

[mankman]

Oh Crap that was supposed to say 96 all fixed now so sorry.

 

[mankman]

I only have one pic so far going back for a look in the daylight and a longer test drive on Sat.

 

[clx16]

questions everyone asks... they want to see the engine bay pictures and want to know if the headgasket has been done..
also picture of the coolant would be helpful.

they will also ask if it is a k294 or k292 on the vin sticker on the driverside door (locker or no lockers) if that even matters to you. at that price you can add them later if you even want them.

look at the oil and smell the transmission fluid for a burnt smell. grab a picture of the underneath for each front wheel area so people can see how well the gaskets are for the birfs and if that suggests neglect or a serious problem. ..... however that orange one next to it makes me think the person probably knows a thing or two about cruisers and you might be getting one in good shape.

is the orange one for sale?

 

[musthave]

Ask him if he will sell me the 40 series right next to it.

 

[mankman]

The Orange one is his son's project it came to NC from California and is a 1970 FJ40 and is all original except for a roll bar some old chrome wheels and the faded orange paint. It was originally grey. He said that he would probably let it go for $15K LOL It would make one heck of a project though.
I checked the coolant and it looked good except for being the wrong color (Green) the oil looked good and no white stuff under the oil cap.
The power steering fluid was the proper red color and the transmission fluid looked ok and didnt smell funny. The Engine starts good and didnt make any loud noises. I left a message for the mechanic who maintained this vehicle for him but have not heard back yet. I will get more pics when I go back on Sat. Thanks for the help...

 

[mankman]

Ask him if he will sell me the 40 series right next to it.

He said I could have it for $15K its a 1970 model

 

[mjosoba]

Looks like mud and grass crammed behind the passenger side of the front bumper, does it have any signs of water damage. And the wheel on that side looks like it has grease/gear oil on the outside of it. How do the knuckles look?

 

[96FZJ80]

X2 on the question of water damage. That grass hanging there looks like it might have been in water for a little while . But can't understand why a seller wouldn't clean that out of there?

And in the picture the hood looks a slightly different color and doesn't appear to line up correctly.

 

[DSRTRDR]

Ask him if he will sell me the 40 series right next to it.

/this\

 

[DSRTRDR]

He said I could have it for $15K its a 1970 model

just in case you buy it: the windshield bumpers on the hood are mounted in the wrong direction

 

[woodsman 44]

Dibs on that FJ40..

 

[mankman]

Looks like mud and grass crammed behind the passenger side of the front bumper, does it have any signs of water damage. And the wheel on that side looks like it has grease/gear oil on the outside of it. How do the knuckles look?

I asked him about that grass and he said its where his son took it through the field behind his place? It was just some loose grass but it did have some mud on the frame but it has been very wet and muddy here this year. I will look closer at everything in the daylight on Saturday but I didnt see any obvious water damage. The hood looks funny because it was not latched all the way FYI thanks everyone for the input

 

[Rifleman]

I asked him about that grass and he said its where his son took it through the field behind his place? It was just some loose grass but it did have some mud on the frame but it has been very wet and muddy here this year. I will look closer at everything in the daylight on Saturday but I didnt see any obvious water damage. The hood looks funny because it was not latched all the way FYI thanks everyone for the input

It's been my experience you might not want to wait till Saturday to go back to look at it. The reason i say that, quality 80's don't sit on the market very long. So while your waiting till Saturday to go back to look at it again, the guy that looked at it before you, will be buying it tomorrow while your waiting for Saturday to roll around.

 

[clx16]

Yeah don't wait as people like me always go with deposit money in hand on the first view and close the deal out the next day at a bank.

Come Saturday and he will have already spent the money someone else paid for it.

 

[fj40z]

@mankman are you in NC? If so you could post up in the Olde North State Cruisers forum and see if someone is close to the seller that could go look at it with you.

NC- Olde North State Cruisers

 

[mankman]

Well I went ahead and got that 80 I figure for $4000 what the heck. What do you guys think?